Billy was a young man gone astray bottle at his lips all night
And day mama said they're gonna send you up the river someday

Whiskey ate big holes in billy's head summer's day he shot spud murphy dead
He said i'm headed up the river as he watched the blood pour red

Mama asked lord jesus what to do at the door came knocking boys in blue
We're gonna send him up the river and make him pay his dues ma'am

And so she watched him round that riverbend go billy felt a chill pass 'cross him
Cold they sent him up the river to turn a young man old